Not the photo-op he wanted

Sean Penn's attempt to help victims of Hurricane Katrina took on a leak almost immediately after launch over the weekend. Penn forgot to plug a hole in his small boat - that had room for his personal photographer - and his feeble attempts to bail the water out (above) were captured on film.

Penn was there to do, "whatever I can do to help." But one on-looker apparently taunted "How are you going to get any people in that thing?"

It's a funny picture of an "activist" I don't much like ... but Penn's willingness to travel to New Orleans and do whatever he can (even if it didn't work out) should be commended.

Perhaps, though, he should just write a big check and leave the rescuing to people who know what they're doing. But I guess the photo-op of writing a check isn't as compelling.